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Carlos Alcaraz has given his views on the GOAT debate after Rafael Nadal recently called Novak Djokovic the best player in tennis history.

Last year, Djokovic equaled Margaret Court’s record for most singles Majors (24) in tennis history, which is also an Open Era record. With respect to ‘big titles’ (Grand Slams, ATP Finals, Masters 1000s, and Olympic gold) won, Djokovic (70) is well ahead of Nadal (59) and Roger Federer (55).

Carlos Alcaraz feeling 'hurt' after shock defeat in Buenos Aires

Rafael Nadal recently hailed longtime rival Djokovic as the best player in the sport’s history, stating that the statistics back up that claim.

I believe that numbers are numbers and statistics are statistics and, in that sense, I think he has better numbers than mine and that is indisputable. It is not beneath me nor do I have an ego big enough to try to disguise a reality that is not. This is the truth,” he told Diario AS. (via CNN)

I think that with respect to titles, Djokovic is the best in history and there is nothing to discuss in that,” he added.

When asked to give his views on the same, rising Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz stated that while statistics show Djokovic is a step ahead of Nadal and Federer, it is not easy to pick between the trio.

Everyone has their own perception of things. For some it is Djokovic the best, for others it is Rafa, for others it is Federer. Rafa said that it is Djokovic at the level of numbers and I also think so. At the level of numbers, Djokovic is the best in history, there is no doubt about that. I think to say who is the best is something that goes beyond the numbers. All three are there and for me all three are the best,” he told MARCA.

After retirement in Rio, Carlos Alcaraz targets Indian Wells and Las Vegas exhibition with Rafael Nadal

At the ongoing ATP 500 event in Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Alcaraz picked up an ankle injury during his tournament opener, which forced his mid-match retirement.

Facing Thiago Monteiro in the opening round of the Rio Open, Alcaraz twisted his ankle in the first game of the contest. After getting some treatment off the court, he resumed the match and managed to break Monteiro’s serve to take the lead.

However, the injury continued to trouble him and he eventually retired from the clash with the scoreline reading 1-1.

Later, after undergoing an MRI scan, the 20-year-old announced that he had a Grade II lateral sprain which could keep him on the sidelines for a few days. He also assured fans that he will be back on the tennis court in Las Vegas, where is to face Rafael Nadal in an exhibition match on March 3. He also confirmed his participation in the Indian Wells Masters.

I just had an MRI on my ankle after yesterday’s injury. After the meeting with my doctor Dr. Lopez Martinez and my physiotherapists Juanjo Moreno and Sergio Hernandez the diagnosis is a grade II lateral sprain. I have a sprain that will keep me out for a few days! See you in Las Vegas and Indian Wells,” Carlos Alcaraz said.

Rafael Nadal has revealed the two most important matches of his career and named one obvious choice, along with a more surprising selection.

The legendary Spaniard picked his epic 2008 Wimbledon final triumph over Roger Federer, as well as his painful defeat to Novak Djokovic in the gruelling 2012 Australian Open final.

Rafael Nadal in Brisbane

At the 2008 Wimbledon Championships, Nadal overcame his great rival, Federer, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 6-7(8-10), 9-7 in a thrilling final to claim his first title at the All England Club.

The contest is regarded by many as one of the greatest matches in tennis history and it saw Nadal win his fifth Grand Slam title and first outside the French Open.

In the final of the 2012 Australian Open, Nadal was edged out 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5-7), 7-5 by his other biggest rival, Djokovic, in an amazing and brutal encounter.

At an incredible five hours and 53 minutes, the marathon final — which is also considered an all-time classic — is the longest match in Australian Open history and the longest major singles final ever.

During his wide-ranging interview with La Sexta’s El Objetivo, Nadal addressed which matches stood above the rest from his remarkable career.

“Roland Garros is undoubtedly the most important tournament of my career. Concerning the special matches, it’s true that I have never experienced a five-set final in Paris,” the 37-year-old said.

“So I would say the 2008 Wimbledon final won against Roger Federer and the 2012 Australian Open final lost against Novak Djokovic. I lost, but I took a step forward in my career that day.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion made his long-awaited comeback at the Brisbane International last month, where he reached the quarter-finals. The Mallorcan withdrew from the 2024 Australian Open due to a hip muscle injury that emerged during his defeat to Jordan Thompson in Brisbane.

Prior to Brisbane, Nadal had not played a singles match for almost a year — since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, where he sustained a hip injury. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat the psoas muscle in his hip in June 2023.

Nadal hoped to make his return from his latest setback at the ATP 250 tournament in Doha this week, but he was forced to withdraw.

“I would have loved to play in Doha, where the tournament team, as well as the amazing Qatar fans, have always supported me greatly,” said Nadal in a social media post.

“Unfortunately I am not ready to compete and I won’t be able to come to Doha where I really wanted to be and play again after that unforgettable win in 2014. I will focus on keep working to be ready for the exhibition in Las Vegas and the amazing Indian Wells tournament.”

The Spaniard is aiming to compete at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells next month, which will run from March 6-17. Before that, Nadal will play his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in the ‘Netflix Slam’ exhibition in Las Vegas on March 3.

US Open champion Coco Gauff says she is committed to fighting for equality and justice and hopes she’ll ultimately be seen as “on the right side of history”, after being named as one of Time magazine’s women of the year on Wednesday.

Gauff has been outspoken from a young age, and grew up with activism engrained in her DNA, passed on from her grandmother Yvonee Lee Odom, who desegregated her high school in Delray Beach in the early 1960s.

As a 16-year-old, Gauff stood up in a Black Lives Matter rally and gave a speech and earlier this week in Dubai, the now 19-year-old told UAE’s The National newspaper she was advocating for peace in Gaza.

“I think it’s important for us as privileged civilians to do our research and just continuing to demand our leaders to make change and I will never not advocate for that,” said Gauff, who won her Dubai last-16 tie on Wednesday against Karolina Pliskova.

Gauff said she felt “honoured” to be named on Time’s list of Women of the Year and wants to follow in the footsteps of tennis legends like Billie Jean King, Althea Gibson, and Venus Williams, who have all fought for equality across different generations.

“I like to say I’m more than a tennis player. I feel like this sport is very popular in advocating for equality and justice. I feel comfortable doing that,” Gauff told reporters in Dubai.

The world number three said she wasn’t too concerned about any backlash she might face for speaking her mind, irrespective of the topic, adding: “My goal is to tell my grandkids that I was on the right side of history. That’s why I’m not too worried about that.”

– Gauff battles past Pliskova –

On the court, Gauff snapped Pliskova’s 11-match winning streak, claiming a hard-fought 2-6 6-4 6-3 win to reach a second consecutive Dubai quarter-final.

A champion in Cluj and semi-finalist in Doha, where she handed Iga Swiatek a walkover, Pliskova hadn’t lost a match since her Australian Open first-round exit last month, picking up 11 victories in 15 days across three countries.

 

Gauff, who won Auckland at the start of the year and made the semi-finals of the Australian Open, lost her opener in Doha last week and overcame a shaky start against Pliskova to reach her third quarter-final of the season.

With the help of eight double faults from Gauff’s racquet, Pliskova scooped the opening set in 30 minutes.

Gauff had an extended argument with the umpire Pierre Bacchi in the second set at 2-6, 4-2, deuce, complaining that he made a late call to incorrectly overrule her serve then refused to award her the point, despite Pliskova missing the return well before the late call was made.

Gauff repeatedly asked for the supervisor to come to the court but Bacchi wouldn’t relent. After failing to convince him, Gauff ended the five-minute discussion and held serve for a 5-2 advantage.

Pliskova saved four set points on the Gauff serve and broke for 4-5 but the American was unnerved and grabbed the next game to take the match into a decider.

A crucial break for Gauff in the eighth game of the final set was enough for the third seed to complete a tough win in one hour and 53 minutes and set up a quarter-final against Anna Kalinskaya.

“I don’t usually advocate that hard for things unless I’m 100 percent sure. I don’t want to get the reputation with the refs from US Open to here,” said Gauff, referring to an argument she had with the official during her US Open first-round match last summer.

When told she was right about Bacchi’s late call, Gauff said: “Okay, so I guess is he going to apologies? I’ll let you know.”

Italian tennis prodigy Jannik Sinner revealed his biggest impression about Novak Djokovic. Sinner had faced off against Djokovic many times on the court. Sometimes he truly bagged his victory against the Serbian tennis legend much like the Davis Cup 2023 or the Australian Open 2024. At times, the world’s number-one tennis star also took over Sinner like the Nitto ATP finals last year.

Among many of the famous competitors, Novak Djokovic always received an exclusive position in Jannik Sinner’s life. Now this Italian tennis star revealed Djokovic as one of the indomitable opponents in professional tennis. Want to know Jannik Sinner’s exact words?

Italy’s Jannik Sinner spoke about his tennis rivalries amid keeping Djokovic in an exclusive position

In a recent interview, Jannik Sinner was asked about his true opponents. In his response, Sinner spoke about many players but Djokovic still held a high ground in the list. Sinner commented- “Zverev and Medvedev are playing very well. Carlos ( Alcaraz , ed.) has already won two Slams and is two years younger than me. And then there’s Nole ( Đokovic , ed.). Nole is Nole.”

Sinner’s comment expressed that despite his on-court rivalry with Alcaraz, he finds Djokovic a tough competitor. So much so, Sinner’s statement didn’t find any replacement for Novak Djokovic on the court.

Amid such intense admiration for Djokovic, Sinner previously revealed his liking for the Serbian tennis god in an interview after the Australian Open 2024. Sinner said- “This story is true and I had the chance already when I was younger, 17, 16 to practice with him in Monaco. And I think already there the process of trying to learn from the best players in the world started. Then, obviously, the match is different, he told me after the match try to move the ball a little bit more, not being a little bit predictable,”

This means despite finding Djokovic a hard competition on the court, Sinner still looks forward to learning from the Serbian tennis maestro.

After defeating Djokovic in Davis Cup 2023, Sinner expressed his pride in his tennis skills
While Sinner admitted Djokovic was one of the fearful tennis rivalries, the former expressed his joy in defeating the world’s number-one last year in Davis Cup.

I want to protect the people closest to me,' Jannik Sinner clearly outlines  the boundaries of personal and professional as he seeks to repay his debts  | Yardbarker

Sinner commented- “Obviously before the match we were talking that it was a really important test today, you know, trying to understand what to expect before the match. Then I think we made a good tactical moment also before the match, and then obviously playing it is a little bit different but I think I have to be really proud about how I handle the situation,”

Jannik Sinner’s comment about Novak Djokovic expressed the Italian tennis prodigy’s true admiration for the Serbian tennis stalwart. It also showed that Novak Djokovic will always be indomitable on the tennis court, even for his biggest rival at the moment, Jannik Sinner.

Coco Gauff recently opened up about paying taxes to the government of the United States of America ever since turning pro at the age of 14.

Gauff has set foot inside the United Arab Emirates to compete at the Dubai Tennis Championships. She made it to the draw as the third seed and received a bye in the opening round. She will take on Italian qualifier Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the second round on Tuesday, February 20.

Ahead of the match, Gauff appeared for an interview with The National to answer various questions. One of the things she touched upon was her finances. She has made nearly $13 million in prize money so far.

Gauff turns 20 on March 13, 2024, but has been paying taxes like an adult for the last five years.

I’ve always been aware that I had to pay taxes even when I was a minor,” Gauff said.

The reigning US Open champion’s father Corey Gauff has helped her understand the pros and cons of the financial world. She, however, suggested that knowing the amount that gets deducted from her purse is not very exciting and she wants to unlearn everything.

I’ve been paying taxes since I’ve been making money,” Gauff continued. “But just now, when I turned 19, my dad has made me more aware of how much I’m paying and how everything works with that world. I wish I could go back to not knowing how much is going away.”

Coco Gauff: “My father is helping me with every moment, he still gives me advice on the court”

Coco Gauff's father Corey

Coco Gauff started her tennis journey under her father Corey’s wings when she was just eight years old. However, Corey has stepped back from the primary role and has opted to act more as a mentor than a full-time coach.

Gauff claimed in the interview with The National that she never anticipated such a shift but thankfully has Corey’s support in important things.

I feel like for me there was never a plan on when he [Corey] would take a step back. Like you said, he’s always involved and he’s helping me with every moment, making sure I have the right people in the team and he still gives me advice on the court,” Coco Gauff said.

She further revealed that Corey had already decided to step back once he helped her win her first Grand Slam title.

But for him, he always said like, ‘If I could help her, get to her first one [Grand Slam], that would be my time to step back’,” Coco Gauff added.

Novak Djokovic knows his priorities. Even though he has spent most of his time on the court, he has also turned out to be a family man. Spending time with his kids is something that the 24-time Grand Slam champion has grown to love this year. Recently, the world number one just before the Paris Masters talked about modeling his schedule in a totally different way. This year, the Serbian tennis star stressed spending time with his familiar ties as a husband and father to his wife instead of competing nonstop. In addition, he made his choice clear between being a family guy and playing on the court.

Novak Djokovic on spending time with his kids

The 2023 tennis season turned out to be one of the best years for the Serbian tennis player, as he won three out of four Grand Slam titles and is now in a position to finish the year as the number one tennis player. Even after grabbing achievements on the court, he recently set his priorities clear as he laid bare his sacrifices for the reward he has received as a family man.

As the 24-time Grand Slam champion is ready to participate in the Paris Masters, speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, he admitted that he has been adjusting his schedule to ensure he spends more time with his family.

All About Novak Djokovic's 2 Children

He said, “You know, just spending as much as possible quality time with my children. And because I have been, I would say, modeling my schedule, so to say, this year to my likings where I want to play, and I haven’t played many tournaments at all. I’ve got to spend more time with my family, and that was a beautiful thing. You know, because the rewards that you get in the relationship is something that is bigger than anything.”

He also mentioned that, in order to spend more quality time with his family, he had opted to skip a few tournaments this year. He went on to say that the rewards he had received from his close relationships outweighed any accomplishments he had made on the court.

Nevertheless, earlier, when he won the US Open title, during the final match he also displayed an amazing father-daughter bond, making his priorities quite clear.

All You Need to Know About Novak Djokovic's Young Children Tara and Stefan  - EssentiallySports

When Novak Djokovic revealed how his daughter is his little stress buster
After winning the US Open final match against Daniil Medvedev, there was a moment when the Serbian tennis player celebrated his victory with his six-year-old daughter. It was quite an emotional moment for him, and after the match, in an interview with Eurosport, he talked about how she was his little stress buster throughout the game.

Additionally, he said that he was quite determined to give it his all, especially in the second set, before things took a turn for the worse after realizing that his daughter was seated in the first row. He also disclosed that at one point Tara gave him a fist bump so they could both enjoy the little intermission between the contest. Nevertheless, Djokovic hugged his daughter as soon as he could after winning, sharing a touching moment.

However, what do you think about the 37-year-old tennis star prioritizing his family over everything? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The emotional conclusion of Roger Federer’s illustrious tennis career is set to be unveiled in an intimate documentary, initially intended solely for personal recollection but now slated for release on Prime Video.

Directed by Asif Kapadia and Joe Sabia, the film delves into the final 12 days of Federer’s journey, capturing his most vulnerable moments as he bids farewell to the sport that has shaped his life for over two decades.

Federer’s retirement, a poignant moment marked by his participation in the Laver Cup 2022, witnessed his closest rivals Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray standing by his side as he took his final bow on the court.

The documentary promises an insider’s view into Federer’s emotional state during this period, offering unprecedented access to his relationships with his fellow tennis icons.

Originally conceived as a personal keepsake, the project evolved into a profound exploration of Federer’s farewell, providing viewers with an intimate glimpse into his world.

Reflecting on the transition from private memoir to public documentary, Federer expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to share his story with a global audience, citing Prime Video’s expansive reach and influence in the film industry.

Federer’s retirement marked the end of a remarkable career marred by a prolonged struggle with a knee injury.

Despite his determination to overcome physical setbacks, the former world No. 1 ultimately made the difficult decision to heed his body’s signals and bid farewell to professional tennis.

Here is what Federer said of the documentary: “Initially, the idea was to capture the final moments of my professional tennis career so that I could have it later on to show my family and friends,” Federer explained. “During my career, I tended to shy away from having cameras around me and my family, especially during important moments. But I didn’t see the harm in shooting this as it was never intended for the public.”

Explaining his decision to turn it into a documentary for Prime Video, he added: “However, we captured so many powerful moments, and it transformed into a deeply personal journey. I am happy to be partnering with Prime Video because of their vast global reach and significant presence in the film industry. This ensures that the story of my final days in tennis will resonate with both tennis enthusiasts and broader audiences worldwide.”

His final appearance at the Laver Cup, surrounded by his esteemed colleagues, serves as a fitting conclusion to a legendary chapter in the sport’s history.

Roger Federer may have retired from tennis in 2022 but he has not kicked back his active lifestyle. Filling his schedule with several different activities, the Swiss legend was recently seen roaming around in South East Asia and enjoying the sights. While he is still a busy man, he always manages to find time for his fans.

This is not the first time Federer has treated his fans with love. He shared a post on his social media showing his dedication to his fans as he engaged with them on a sunny day. Now, he found himself in the midst of quiet fan frenzy in another country.

Roger Federer takes time out for his fans
Traveling around the world is a must for tennis players as they participate in tournaments all around the globe. One would imagine athletes would get tired of packing and unpacking bags year after year. But for Federer, the love of traveling does not change. He was recently seen in Bangkok, Thailand, but he did not visit the country just for a fun vacation.

Being Federer, there was no doubt he would be hounded by fans all around. Many fans came up to the 20x Grand Slam champ in Bangkok, and he made sure to take time out for them to give his signature and click pictures with them.

The workers of Poomjai Garden also took pictures with him and shared them on their Facebook page with the caption, “I cannot not post this. It’s a life event! Thanks @rogerfederer for visiting our garden @poomjai_garden #legend #rogerfederer #goat”.

Federer has fulfilled his fans’ desire to interact with him many times. He even has a fan club in his home country and often spends time with those who support him, and has a blast!

Federer has a legendary time with his fans
In September 2023, the Swiss tennis legend shared on social media how he met some of his followers while hosting a ‘fan day’ at Lake Lucerne for them. He posted, “Forever grateful for the legendary RF fan club. 🙏🏼 It was an honor to host a fan day on Lake Lucerne after so many great memories over the years. I can’t wait to see everyone again soon 🇨🇭⛴️”.

Along with a caption, Federer shared a picture of the cruise while he stood on the pier. The tennis maestro always manages to put a smile on the faces of his fans and did so once again recently.

Rafael Nadal continues to recover from the hip injury which ruined his 2023 season

The relationship between tennis rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal has come to light, following a controversial comment made by the Spaniard’s Uncle Toni last year. Nadal missed the majority of last season due to a hip injury and aggravated the problem at 2024’s Brisbane International before withdrawing from the Australian Open.

2024 Brisbane International: Day 6
Rafael Nadal aggravated a hip injury before the Australian Open

Nadal had high hopes for a better start to 2024 after spending almost 12 months recovering from his injury. However, the Spaniard’s uncle and former coach Toni caused controversy with a joke about the 22-time Grand Slam winner’s rivals.

During a conversation with the Majorca Daily Bulletin he said: “Now, what we need is, we need an injury of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and maybe Daniil Medvedev. We need that many… a lot of problems and then Rafa can play really good.”

Former coach of the Serbian Davies Cup team Bogdan Obradovic has shed some light on the relationship between Djokovic and Nadal’s camps. Speaking to sport he said: “We’ve always been friends with Nadal and his team.

“I don’t know if it was taken out of context, if he wanted to be funny and missed everything. I look at Tony as our friend, I don’t believe he meant any harm.” While Nadal was absent for the majority of last season Djokovic ruled supreme adding three Grand Slams to his tally.

However, the Serbian suffered a semi-final defeat at this season’s Australian Open against eventual winner Jannik Sinner. Obradovic believes that Djokovic will bounce back, with the Paris Olympic Games amongst his targets.

2024 Australian Open - Day 13
Novak Djokovic was beaten in the Australian Open semi-final

“Everything is stable,” added Obradovic. “One defeat can happen to anyone. He is number one, the world’s top. What does it mean to fall? When we measure (Michael) Jordan and all the athletes, no one was that stable.

“What can I say about number one? Even if he falls, he’ll fall to number two. It’s not the beginning of the end and Novak himself said it after the Australian Open. There are more tournaments and the Olympics.”

Coco Gauff’s recent Valentine’s Day adventure with her mother Candi drew an amusing reaction from Jalen Sera.

Gauff is currently in Doha with her mother Candi and her coaching team. The American tennis star was recently in action at the 2024 Qatar Open. She, however, suffered an early exit at the ongoing WTA 1000 event.

Coco Gauff, who was the second seed at the tournament, was defeated by World No. 42 Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-4 in the second round on Tuesday, February 13, after an opening-round bye. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the 19-year-old chose to extend her stay in Doha to explore the capital city.

On Valentine’s Day, Gauff and her mother Candi went for a quad bike adventure in the Sealine Desert. The mother-daughter duo also rode camels and posed with a falcon. They shared the highlights of their day with fans on social media.

Live to see another day. Happy Valentine’s Day from Doha, Qatar,” Coco Gauff’s mother wrote in her Instagram post.

Motorsport,” the 19-year-old wrote under her post.

Gauff’s post caught Jalen Sera’s attention and he shared an amusing reaction.

Sandwoman,” he wrote in the comments.

Jalen Sera on Instagram

Sera, an Atlanta-based guitarist, frequently shows his appreciation for the 2023 US Open champion on social media.

Following Gauff’s 2024 Australian Open defeat, the duo reportedly spent time together and also visited the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida, where the tennis player resides. They shared pictures from their day out on social media.

Blooming,” Jalen Sera wrote under the post by Gauff.

A flower for a flower,” Gauff wrote in response.

On her part, Gauff also praised Sera under his post captioned “Finding it,” where he shared pictures from the Morikami Gardens and also added a clip of him playing the guitar.

Art. @jalensera I like it,” she wrote.

Coco Gauff and Jalen Sera on Instagram

“I felt good to just be at home” – Coco Gauff on unwinding after her Australian Open 2024 loss

Coco Gauff kicked off her 2024 campaign by defending her ASB Classic title to clinch her seventh career trophy. She faced her first loss of the season to Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinal of the Australian Open.

Gauff, who defeated the Belarusian to win the 2023 US Open title, admitted that she initially ruminated on her Melbourne setback.

Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka pictured at the 2024 Australian Open
Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka pictured at the 2024 Australian Open

I would say that the first night I was like still thinking about the things that went on in that match,” she said in a recent interview for Sky Sports.

The World No. 3, however, noted that traveling back home and spending some days off rejuvenated her.

And then after that, I flew home and then what did I do? Oh, I took off like four days; four-five days. My boyfriend came in town so I hung out with him,” Coco Gauff recalled. “And then I was really happy to get back on the practice court. I felt good to just be at home.”

Gauff is next scheduled to compete in the WTA 1000 Dubai Tennis Championships (February 18-24), where she was the semifinalist in 2023.